GB191415187A - Improvements in or relating to Ammunition Hoisting and Loading Apparatus. - Google Patents

Abstract

15,187. Dawson, Sir A. T., and Horne, J. June 24. Loading-appliances.-Relates to ammunition hoists in which the gun-loading cage is provided with a movable support for the powder charges, which is controlled by the rammer so as to move step by step to enable the charges to move through an opening in the cage on to the projectile tray. According to the invention, the powder charges are retained in place in the cage partly by the movable support and partly by the body of the cage. Fig. 1 shows a rear view of the gun-loading cage A carrying quarter powder-charges in pairs on trays c, c<1> on the swinging powder-charge support C, and a projectile on a tray A<1>. Attached to the support C and moving therewith on a pivot C' is a plate E having a groove E<1> with stepped shoulders e, c<1>, e<2>, against which a movable stop D successively engages during the swinging of the support. The stop D is automatically rotated step by step bv means of a member D' mounted on a spindle d<2>, connected with the stop by a link d<1>, and rotated through a projection F and shoulder D<2> by the contact of the head of the rammer with a two-armed pawl F', F<2>, as shown in Fig. 2. The rammer, at the end of its return movement after ramming the projectile, moves the arm F<1> and with it the stop D to free the powder-charge support C, so that two quarter-charges fall from the tray c on to the tray A<1>, the stop D then arresting the support by engaging with the shoulder e<1>. The rammer, after ramming these two quartercharges and on its return, then moves the arm F<2>, and the stop D is again actuated to free the support C and allow the other two quartercharges to fall from the tray c<1> oil to the tray A', the stop D arresting the support by engaging with the shoulder e<2>. The movements of the support are cushioned by a buffer E<2> engaging with cams A<2>, A<3>. The support C is returned to the position shown in Fig. 1 when the loading-cage is lowered, by the engagement of a stop E<x> with a cam on the loading-arm, a spring returning the stop D. The stop D may be displaced manually a step at a time by moving a hand-lever G, which moves an arm d carrying the stop through a spring catch G<1> and notches on the arm.